Jehoiachin

Son of Jehoiakim and Nehushta, king of Judah (597 B.C.). He was also called Jeconiah (I Chr 3:16; Jer 24:1; 27:20; 28:4; 29:2) and Coniah (Jer 22:24, 28; 37:1). He became king at the age of 18 when Judah rebelled against Babylonia. Along with his mother, his wife, his officials and others, he was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin's uncle Zedekiah to be king in his place and exacted heavy tribute from the land. The historical events of Jehoiachin's short reign (three months, or three months and ten days), are described in II Kings 24:8-15; II Chronicles 36:9-20 and also in Babylonian inscriptions. After his captivity, a belief arose among the people that he would soon return and resume his kingship (Jer 28:3-4) and even the Jews in Babylonia reckoned their calendar by the years of his exile (Ezek 1:2; 8:1). On the other hand, Jeremiah, opposing another prophet Hananiah who declared that Jehoiachin would return within two years (Jer 28:3-4, 11), predicted the end of his reign and dynasty (Jer 22:24-30). While in exile throughout the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Jehoiachin remained in prison. After the death of the Babylonian king, he was brought to the royal palace by the new king Evil-Merodach (II Kgs 25:27-30; Jer 52:31-34). Babylonian tablets record that Jehoiachin and his five sons were treated throughout as royal hostages receiving daily rations from the king at whose table he dined. Three stamps on jar handles, found in Judah with the inscription "to Eliakim servant of Yaukin", probably indicate that his property was preserved even when he was in exile.